Multiple-plug receptacle



March'25, 1930;v H. BIRCHALL 1,752,225

MULTIPLE PLUG RECEPTACLE Filed Se t? 14, 1927 1 -11 I "7a V4 Li. 1 I 'J ATT NEY Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY BIRCHALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE-PLUG REoEP'rAoLn Application filed September 14, 1927. SeriaL No. 219,554.

The device, the subject of this invention is intended as a receptacle for a'plurality of plugs. Y

I I am aware that receptacles have been constructed for the reception of one or two attachment plugs, but I am not aware that a receptacle has ever been constructed wherein a greater number of plugs may be inserted and the object of the present invention is to construct and provide a receptaclefor the reception of three plugs.

The following is what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention and the accompanying drawing should be referred to for a complete understanding of the specification which follows.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1, is a top, plan view of my device assembled.

2 Fig. 2, shows in side elevation the interior portion.

Fig. 3, is a top, plan view with one insulating member removed.

Fig. 4, is a sectional view on the line 14= in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, unit.

Fig 6, is an enlarged view of a clip.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 4.

Fig.8, is a perspective view of the lower bus bar.

Similar reference numerals indicate-like under the lowermost "section and projecting outward from the insulating portion, is provided with screw slots 12 and 13 by means of which the device may be secured to and supported in the box.

is a perspective view of a bus-bar spring contact member 23 rests, a second 8, 9 and 10 and supporting. straps 11 passing- The upper insulating member 8 really serves as a cover member for the electrical contacting portions and this member has 'three upwardly projecting portions 14:, 15'

and 16 which pass through the oblong openings 2, 3 and 4 of the 'face plate 1. These upwardly projecting insualting portions are in turn each provided with a pair of oblong perforations as shown at 17 18 and 19 through which a pin plug may be introduced. The next successively downward member is the member 9 which is also provided with a plurality of perforations extending therethrough and arranged in pairs as shown at 20, 21 and 22 and in each of these perforations I place a contact clip such as is shown at 23 in Figs. 3 and 4c and in increased size in Fig. 6. The insulating member 9 is also provided with recesses 24 and 25, wherein is arranged clips 26 and 27 for the reception of the conductor wires. These clips may be formed integral with the bus bar and the uppermost bus bar 28 shows the general construction of the pair of bus bars which I employ. This uppermost bus bar has a tongue 29 in contact with the clip 27 a tongue30 upon which the tongue receiving the spring contact 23 anda third tongue 32 receiving the spring clip 23. This bus bar may-be let into the insulating material from which the member 9 is formed and the general shape and construction of this bus bar is shown in Fig. 5.

The lowermost bus bar indicated by the dotted lines 33 may be flat. It has a tongue projecting into and under the clip 23, a second tongue projecting into and under the clip 23 and a third tongue projecting under the clip 23". An upwardly turned tongue receives or may be formed integral with the wire receiving clip 26. The arrangement of the several spring contact members may be readily noted by referring to the sectional view, Fig. 4 and it will be noted that the slots 18 and .19 through the member 8 aline with the open portion of the spring clips 23?, 23 23 and 23 which are exposed to view in Fig. 4:

' My device is designed to operate with an ordinary cut-out box and therefore the particular arrangement of the clips and bus bars is exceedingly important.

The lower plate 10, which is also an insulating member, encloses the lower ends of all 5 of the recesses 20, 21 and 22 and covers the lower bus bar 33. I may provide any suitable means for retaining the portions of my device together. Such a means may be the extension of the sockets which receive the screws 5, 6 and 7, but as such means is common in the art, it will not be necessary to detail or describe such means.

It Will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the append ed claim, without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, but I prefer the whole as shown and described.

Having carefully and fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain A device of the character described hav-' ing a face plate provided with three oblong slots, an insulating member arranged adja cent to said face plate, a second insulating member arranged adjacent to said first insulating member and provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough and a plurality of pairs of spring clips arranged each in an independent perforation, a bus bar at the top of said second insulating member and having tongues bent downwardly into said perforations for receiving alternate spring clips and a tongue for receiving a power wire, a second bus bar arranged at the bottom of said second insulating member and provided with tongues for receiving the other alternate spring clips and a tongue for receiving a power wire and a third insulating mem- 40 her arranged under said second insulating member and adapted to shield the current carrying members and a bracket under said third insulating member for supporting the whole in the receptacle box as herein set forth. Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 14th day of June, 1927. HENRY BIRCHALL. 

